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Put me in Coach…

“Leaders aren’t born they are made. And they are made just like anything else, through hard work. And that’s the price we’ll have to pay to achieve that goal, or any goal” – Vince Lombardi

Every Coach I have ever met wants his team to win. When I was a Flag Football coach, even though they technically did not keep score.. I wanted the kids on the team to win.. Winning feels good and winning typically means that you were the better team that day. Better skills, better leadership, better coaching, better condition.
When the whistle blows for the opening kick off.. the coach stands on the side line and watches as his team succeeds or fails. As the players come and go from the side line to the playing field he offers up advise, he coaches them on a specific part of the game, and he encourages them to go out there and win.
My frustrated Dad from the previous post reads the blog as I have come to find out via an email. Which is great, because as he reads the content, maybe he will gain a better understanding of what it is that we are trying to accomplish here in Scouting. I have already responded to him, but as I thought about how to best explain what it is that we Scoutmasters do.. well the Football coach analogy just would not leave me alone.
A coach does not go out and make tackles.. he coaches on proper technique. He never throws a touchdown pass.. but he teaches the Quarterback on proper release. The coach has assistant coaches too.. and they teach and coach their specific parts of the team. They encourage their players to get better, stronger, faster, and more skilled. Well such is the role of the Scoutmaster and his assistants. They develop leadership in the Scouts and encourage them to do their best. They step in when needed, but rely on the players (Scouts) to make the play or complete the task.
Standing on the side lines.. or in the back of the meeting hall, the Scoutmaster can observe his Troop winning or learning. We don’t really lose. Every failure comes with a learning point or as I call it in our Troop, our take home point.
What the Scoutmaster does is provide opportunities. He mentors the Senior Patrol leader to a position that he now can do it alone. The Scoutmaster is never too far away and provides confidence in the young man that he can and will accomplish any task he sets his mind to. This is a great lesson in life.
I love the coach analogy. It fits well when you want a Scout to go out there and play the game with a purpose.
And as for the frustrated Dad.. he will get it. I am sure of that.
And hey.. thanks to Larry for the great comment on the last post. Right on!

“If it doesn’t matter who wins or loses, then why do they keep score?” – Vince Lombardi

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Testimonials

"There are little things in life that helps to ‘center us’, and one of those was your blog. I am feeling more fulfilled now! Glad you are back" - Nate
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Jerry, you’re an excellent communicator, you have a very experienced and level headed view of Scouting and you definitely are a great example of a servant leader. Seriously, I think you should be working for BSA National - Trent